Russia Reopens Sea Of Azov Passage For Grain Ships For First Time Since July
Permission to depart was granted on October 26 to vessels operating from the Russian commercial ports of Temryuk and Kavkaz.
Russia has resumed granting departure permits to grain ships in the Sea of Azov after a halt of more than three months, allowing vessels to pass through the Kerch Strait into the Black Sea as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to threaten Russian maritime operations and export infrastructure.
Permission to depart was granted on October 26 to vessels operating from the Russian commercial ports of Temryuk and Kavkaz, according to three sources familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg on October 28. At least one vessel had passed through the Kerch Strait into the Black Sea by October 29.
Ships with complete crews and preparations for transit can now apply for official permission to leave port. However, the resumption of departures does not amount to a full restoration of shipping operations, with vessels still facing security risks during transit across the Black Sea.
Russia suspended navigation through the Don–Azov Canal and stopped processing applications for passage through the Kerch Strait in July after a Ukrainian drone campaign targeted Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov.
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